Myopic progression and dark focus variation in optometric students during the first academic year.

Background: The aim of this research was to investigate the change in refractive error (RE) of optometric students during their first academic year and whether these changes relate to changes in their dark focus (DF).

Method: The RE and DF of 64 students were measured objectively every three months during the first academic year, a total of four times, using a Canon R-1 infrared optometer. Thirty-five of the 64 students had an additional RE and DF measurement three weeks immediately after their Summer vacation.